The best diet to lose body fat is something that’s well-balanced and provides your body with the right amount of nutrients while also allowing you to stay within your calorie goals. Most importantly, it should be something that you can stick to in the long run.
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It’s unfortunate that so many women have the tendency to slip back to their old habits and end up gaining back the weight they lost just because they cannot maintain a particular diet. So it’s important that you choose a diet that your can stick to even for the long run. Having said that, here’s everything you need to know on how to lose body fat.
What Is Body Fat?
To begin with, it’s important that you know exactly what body fats are, what they do and how much of it should we have. Body fats are essential for our bodies. Although your goal is to lose fat, your body needs some fat in order to keep your organs and central nervous system functioning well. However, it must be the right sort of fat. Too much unhealthy fat could make you more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
The ideal body fat range for women is 25 to 28 percent, while 12 to 15 percent for men. Yet, this will vary from one person to another so it may be best to check with your doctor to find out what ideal body fat percentage should be.
Know Your Daily Calorie Intake
When it comes to losing body fats, you must find a way to lessen your daily calorie consumption. Health experts would, in fact, recommend jotting down your daily calorie intake in a journal. This somehow helps to give you an idea of what you need to eliminate in order to minimize your daily calorie consumption. It’s always a good idea for your health to avoid sugary drinks altogether and reduce your consumption of alcohol.
Eat Fewer Refined Carbs
Carbs, especially “slow releasing” carbs, are important because these are what our bodies need for energy. They help us to move, walk, think, etc. If you don’t have enough carbs, you may not have the energy to perform your workout routine. If you are trying to lose fat, you do not need to eat tons of carbs. Here’s why – your body will convert the carbs you’ve eaten into energy and if it is not used up immediately, it will get turned into and stored as glycogen.
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Glycogen is basically the energy from carbs that have been stored in your body until you need them. If your body ends up using the stored glycogen, yet still needs more energy, it will begin to burn your fats instead. So if you’re trying to lose some fat, you should reduce your carb intake to make your body start burning your body fat.
Related reading: How Many Carbs Do You Need To Eat To Lose Weight?
Avoid a Low Fat Diet
Several studies show that the most effective diets are the low carb, high-fat diets. People who are on low-fat diets do not lose as much weight as those who tend to eat more fats. The reason is that low-fat diets are so difficult to stick to since its dietary fat makes people to easily feel full. On the other hand, fats have more calories per gram unlike protein and carbs and this caloric density makes high-fat foods even more satisfying.
Related reading: Best Fats To Eat On A Low Carb Diet
So if you have been trying to lose weight and some body fat yet you’re not getting anywhere, the tips above should be helpful. But remember that diet alone is not enough. Consider performing some high-intensity cardio exercises every week to help your body burn those unwanted stored fats.
Related reading: 5 Bad Weight Loss Habits That Can Sabotage Your Efforts
